nts

the paparazzi cameras blazed like a thousand suns, each click a reminder of the empire they'd just built a

e it?" one reporter shouted,

s officially over?" another yelled, snapp

smile, folding her hands delicately in front of her. She lea

ipping with feigned sympathy. "Lily's health is our number

could feel the heat of their stares, the weight of their questions, a

the cameras capture their intimacy. She was good at this - too good. Her blonde hair cascaded

t wasn't

ck of the car, Eloise dropped the a

. "You really think they bought that? It was almost like a scene from a movie. T

s. "You're insane, Eloise ," he muttered

eling guilty?" Eloise 's voice

inally done it. We've gotten rid of that little nuisance. No more Lily, no more drama.

Lily might wake up. She might remember everything. The lies... the

u're still letting that pathetic little girl get to you. S

"You don't know that. What if she remembers what

l scared of her? That's adorable." She reached across the seat

m not going anywhere. A

t he pushed the thought away. His

ly

ing up in that hospital bed, surrounded by questions she mig

the vehicle swerved sharply, taking a detour into a narrow, dimly lit alley. Eliot's heart skipped

liot muttered, leaning for

d at all. "You're being

me - wasn't staring straight ahead, his expression blank and unblinking. His skin was an unnatural shade of pale, a

t at the end of the alley. The driver turned his head slowly toward

said, his voice smoo

s neck stood up. This wasn't right. He glanced at Eloi

can't afford his services. We don't exactly have

as he swung the door open, revealing a dark mansion looming before them. The towering stru

down his spine. "I don

d. "Stop overthinking everything.

helming sense of dread that had settled in his stomach refused t

ver. The man's blank stare never wavered, his smile stretching just slightly

closing behind him, he couldn't help bu

a finality that echoed in the air